Striking a pose: Photographer Sophie Narses spotted the pensive ape in a thoughtful mood sitting just like Rodin's Thinker (right)

There comes a time in a chap’s life when he needs to get away from the crowd for a moment and ponder the universe.And if he ends up being compared to Rodin’s The Thinker, who cares?This young western lowland gorilla’s contemplative pose, reminiscent of the 1902 bronze-and-marble sculpture, was captured at the French animal park La Vallee des Singes. While most of his fellow zoo animals prefer to monkey around all day, the majestic ape pondered his existence just like the well-known sculpture depicting a man in sober meditation.

Deep in thought: Photographer Sophie said the ape held the thoughtful pose for several minutes before beatings its chest and moving away

Keen photographer Sophie Narses, 20, who captured the striking image, said: 'I went several times to see one particular family of gorillas, but I noticed that this teenage one was very playful and always testing the reactions he got from visitors.'Whenever I went I would always train my camera on him hoping he would do something spectacular. And sure enough one day he did!'

Photographer Sophie Narses, who has been taking pictures for around five years, caught magic moment at La Vallie des Singes monkey park in Poitiers, France

Miss Narses added: 'On this occasion I expected him to just climb up a tree, but he looked at me as if to say watch this.'He turned and took up the Thinker position. I took the picture and he screamed and beat his chest with his hands proudly.'He held it for two or three minutes so I managed to get a couple of good, clear shots of him doing it.